As housing affordability continues to be a big deterrent for would-be homebuyers, some are turning to their friends in order to break into the market.
According to a 2026 Rocket Mortgage survey, 60% of respondents who were renters said they would consider buying a home with a friend. And according to a yearly report by the housing co-ownership platform CoBuy, the number of people who bought a home with someone they’re not married to increased by 26% from 2021 to 2025.
Ashley Ayala, an insurance appraiser living outside of Austin, Texas, is one of those co-owners. In February, she bought a home with her best friend.
“The house makes me so happy, and I get to have people over all the time,” said Ayala. “But it’s expensive.”
“Marketplace” host Kristin Schwab has been talking to Ayala about her financial life since early 2025, and spoke to her about her first seven months of homeownership. They chatted about the unexpected costs of owning a house, and how Ayala is navigating those costs with her friend and co-owner.
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